Word

Official explanation

Call for proposal

Group of topics with one opening and closing date that are open in parallel and address the same policy domain.

Cluster

The “cluster” is the thematic component of the second Pillar, ‘Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness’. Six clusters were identified on the basis of the thematic consistency of R&I activities.

Destinations

A destination consists of packages of actions around which each work programme part will be designed, aimed at contributing to the objectives and the expected impacts set out in the strategic orientations. The destination will provide the policy narrative for the calls and actions included in the Work Programme.

EU Policy Priorities

Overall priorities of the EU

European Research Council (ERC)

The first pan-European funding body for frontier research aims to enhance the dynamic character, creativity and excellence of European research at the frontiers of knowledge. Through peer reviewed competitions the best researchers are funded to perform their research in Europe.

Expected impacts

The expected impacts are a core element of the impact-driven approach of Horizon Europe, describing the long-term effects to which research and innovation are due to contribute.

Frontier research

Frontier research, supported by the ERC (European Research Council), stands at the forefront of creating new knowledge and developing new understanding. Those involved are responsible for fundamental discoveries and advances in theoretical and empirical understanding, and even achieving the occasional revolutionary breakthrough that completely changes our knowledge of the world.

Green Deal

The European Green Deal is the plan to make the EU’s economy sustainable carbon-neutral by 2050. The plan outlines investments needed and financing tools available. The Green Deal brings together all the measures and research programmes put in place to achieve this objective.

Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe framework programme represents the largest collaborative
multinational research and innovation investment in Europe and is open
to participants worldwide

Horizon 2020

Horizon 2020 was the EU's research and innovation funding programme from 2014-2020 with a budget of nearly 80 billion euros. The programme has been succeeded by Horizon Europe.

Impact areas

Group of expected impacts highlighting the most important transformation to be fostered through research and innovation

Joint Research Centre (JRC)

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is the European Commission's science and knowledge service which employs scientists to carry out research in order to provide independent scientific advice and support to EU policy. The JRC is a Directorate-General of the European Commission. 

Key Digital Technologies Joint Undertaking (KDT JU) 

Successor to ECSEL JU - is a EU-driven, public-private partnership, funding innovation in electronic components and systems.

Key Enabling technologies (KETs)

KET is a group of six technologies considered to allow European industries to retain competitiveness and capitalise on new markets. The updated list of KETs:
Advanced Manufacturing Technologies; Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology; Life Sciences Technologies; Micro-Nanoelectronics and Photonics; Artificial intelligence; Security and Connectivity.

Key Strategic Orientations (KSOs)

Set of strategic objectives within the EC policy priorities where research and innovation investments are expected to make a difference

Missions

Address some of the greatest global challenges that affect our daily lives. Each EU mission has ambitious, clear and targeted objectives that are time-bound, realistic and measurable.

Partnership

European Partnerships are initiatives where the EU together with private and/or public partners commit to jointly support the development and implementation of a programme of research and innovation activities.

Pillar

Horizon Europe is built on three pillars. The pillar concept emphasizes that
an excellent research and Innovation european ecosystem should be built
on three founding Research & Innovation (R&I) dimensions, among them interconnected and synergic.

Project results

What is generated during the project implementation e.d. know-how, innovative solutions, algorithms, proof of feasibility, new business models, policy recommendations, prototypes, demonstrators, datasets, trained researchers, new infrastructures, networks, etc.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

The category of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is made up of enterprises which employ fewer than 250 persons and which have an annual turnover not exceeding EUR 50 million, and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding EUR 43 million.

Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU)

The European Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) aims to ensure industrial leadership for Europe in 5G and 6G.

Strategic Plan

The EU Strategic Plan translates the EU policy priorities through Key Strategic Orientations and Impact Areas into Expected Impacts.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or Global Goals are acollection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”. The SDGs were set in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are intended to be achieved by the year 2030.

Technology Readiness Level (TRL)

Since the start of the Horizon 2020 program in 2014, the European Commission uses the TRL scale to measure or indicate the maturity of a given technology. There are nine TRLs.

Topics (or: expected outcomes)

Expected effects of the projects supported under a given topic, fostered by the dissemination and exploitation measures. This may include the uptake diffusion, deployment, and/or use of the project results by target groups

Work programme

Each expected impact is targeted via dedicated packages of actions in the work programmes. These expected impacts are called Destinations. A work programme contains specific funding opportunities under Horizon Europe.